As Civilization 7 launches, understanding which leaders give you the best chance of victory is crucial for both new and experienced players. This Civ 7 tier list ranks every leader based on their unique abilities, potential for early-game dominance, and overall strategic value.
Whether you’re planning to pursue a military, cultural, or scientific victory, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each leader will help you make an informed choice for your next game.
Tier | Leaders |
S-Tier (Elite) | • Machiavelli • Augustus • Ashoka (World Conqueror) |
A-Tier (Strong) | • Xerxes (King of Kings) • Xerxes (The Achaemenid) • Benjamin Franklin • Tecumseh • Trung Trac • Confucius • Catherine the Great |
B-Tier (Good) | • Lafayette • Napoleon (Emperor) • Napoleon (Revolutionary) • Himiko (Queen of Wa) • Himiko (High Shaman) • Ibn Battuta • Ashoka (World Renouncer) • Charlemagne • Jose Rizal |
C-Tier (Average) | • Amina • Harriet Tubman |
D-Tier (Challenging) | • Pachacuti • Isabella • Hatshepsut |
Machiavelli stands out as potentially the best leader in the game. His unique abilities allow him to gain gold from both successful and failed diplomatic actions, making him an economic powerhouse. The ability to declare formal wars without relationship requirements and levy military units from city-states gives him unparalleled flexibility in military strategy.
Augustus excels at city management and production. His ability to gain production in the capital for every town and increased gold for purchasing buildings makes him an incredibly strong choice for players focusing on empire development.
The World Conqueror version of Ashoka is a military powerhouse. His ability to gain celebrations from declaring formal wars, combined with increased combat strength against fortified districts during celebrations, makes him exceptionally strong in military campaigns.
As King of Kings, Xerxes excels at aggressive expansion. With increased combat strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory and bonus gold from captured settlements, he’s designed for constant conquest.
Tecumseh‘s strength lies in his ability to leverage city-states. Getting increased food, production, and combat strength based on the number of city-states under his suzerainty makes him extremely powerful in the early to mid-game. His abilities encourage diplomatic play while providing military advantages, making him a versatile choice for various strategies.
While this tier list provides a solid framework for choosing your leader in Civilization 7, remember that player skill and strategy can often overcome theoretical advantages. Each leader offers unique opportunities for victory, and even those in lower tiers can be extremely effective in the right hands. Experiment with different leaders to find the one that best matches your playstyle and strategic preferences.